Afghanistan: bloodiest year for international troops since 2001

The deaths of four US soldiers in Afghanistan means 2009 has become the
bloodiest year for international troops since operations began in 2001.

Afghanistan: he fatalities take the death toll for 2009 to 295, including 69 British service personnel.Photo: PA

12:52PM BST 25 Aug 2009

The American fatalities take the death toll for 2009 to 295, including 69 British service personnel.

With preliminary results due in Afghanistan's election today, the deaths are a stark reminder of the cost of providing security in the country.

The latest deaths were caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the south of the country, the US military said.

According to the website icasualties.org, which records coalition losses, the death toll has passed the 291 recorded in 2008.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is due to give an early indication of results and turnout in the elections today, with some critics questioning whether the sacrifices by British troops had been enough to persuade voters it was safe to exercise their democratic right.

Establishing exactly how many people in Helmand province - where most UK forces are based - voted last week is fraught with doubts about the accuracy of official figures and the extent of ballot rigging.

Six Afghan presidential candidates warned today that fraud allegations threaten to undermine the election and could fuel violence.

The candidates' statement followed a presidential spokesman's assurance that the government was prepared to respond to any post-election unrest.

There are fears that supporters of former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah could vent fury if he comes in second with no chance at a runoff, which would be triggered if no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the vote.

President Hamid Karzai is the front-runner in the competition, but a low turnout in Helmand could damage his hopes of reaching the 50 per cent he needs as he enjoys strong support among his fellow Pashtuns in the province.

In 2004 he received 262,940 votes - or 90.2 per cent of the total of 294,086 votes cast - in Helmand.

The ballot is the first Afghan-led election for more than 30 years - previous contests in 2004 and 2005 were run by the UN - although the international community is providing considerable support.

As well as the presidential race, Afghans voted in provincial council elections last week.

The European Union, which has provided monitors for the process, said the security measures "successfully prevented any major disruptions of the elections".

However, the statement issued by the Swedish government, which holds the EU presidency, said the Union "takes note with concern... reports of irregularities and fraud".

The IEC will announce the certified results in the presidential contest on September 17.

If no candidate passes the 50 per cent mark a second round of voting would be held in late September or early October between the two front-runners.

The deaths of the US troops today followed reports that commanders had requested reinforcements.

President Barack Obama's special representative to the region, Richard Holbrooke, has been told by all four regional commands in Afghanistan that there are insufficient troops to contend with the Taliban insurgency, according to an article in the New York Times on Monday.